List of Latin phrases

This page includes Englishtranslations of less common Latin phrases (i.e., not always found in dictionaries), some of which are themselves translations from Greek.

For a list of more formal proverbs, see: List of Latin proverbs. Note that the difference between phrases and proverbs is often subjective. Please use this test to see whether a Latin sentence is a phrase or proverb: If the sentence is an old yet common saying that expresses some practical truth, then it is probably a proverb. If it is in the form of an incomplete sentence or does not contain some practical truth, then it is probably a phrase.

"To the man" — usually, an argument criticizing the opponent's person rather than his ideas; or also an argument designed to appeal to personal interest rather than objective fact.

;Ad infinitum

"To infinity" — going on forever.

;Ad interim

"In the meantime" — as in the term "chargé d'affaires ad interim" for a diplomatic officer who acts in place of an ambassador.

;Ad kalendas graecas

"To the Greek Kalends" — said by Emperor Augustus, in Suetonius, with the sense of "never". Kalends were part of the Roman calendar, not of the Greek, so the "Greek kalends" are "a date that will never happen".

"For usage of the Dauphin" — said of a work that has been expurgated of offensive or improper parts. The phrase originates from editions of Greek and Roman classics which Louis XIV had printed for his heir apparent, the Dauphin.

;Ad usum proprium (ad us. propr.)

"For own usage"

;Ad valorem

"By the value" — e.g.ad valorem tax.

;Advocatus Diaboli

"The Devil's Advocate" — said about someone who defends an unpopular view for the sake of discussion (without really meaning it).

;Aegri somnia

"Troubled dreams."

;Alea iacta est

"The die is cast" — said by Julius Caesar, in Suetonius, after his decision to defy Roman law by crossing the Rubicon with his troops. (Suetonius actually uses it in the future imperative "Alea iacta esto": "Be sure to cast the dice").

"Nourishing mother" — term used for the university one attends/has attended. The word "matriculation" is derived from "mater". The term suggests that the students are "fed" knowledge and taken care of by the university.

"Friend of the court" — an adviser, or a person who can obtain or grant access to the favour of powerful people (like Romana curia). In current U.S. legal usage, a third party allowed to submit a brief (an amicus brief) to the court.

"Before the letter" — said after an expression that described something that existed before the expression itself was introduced or became common. For example, one could say that Alan Turing was a computer scientist ante litteram, since the profession of "computer scientist" was not recognised in Turing's day.

;Ante meridiem (a.m.)

"Before noon" — in the period from midnight to noon.

;Ante prandium (a.p.)

"Before lunch" — i.e. before a meal. Used on pharmaceutical prescriptions.

;Asinus asinorum in saecula saeculorum.

"The jackass of jackasses in the centuries of centuries" — i.e. "The greatest jackass in eternity."

"Good services", a nation's offer to mediate in disputes between two other nations

;Bonum commune communitatis

"General welfare."

;Bonum commune hominis

"Common good of man."

;Busillis

Pseudo-Latin meaning "baffling puzzle" or "difficult point". John of Cornwall (ca. 1170) was once asked by a scribe what the word meant. It turns out that the original text said in diebus illis magnis plenæ ("in those days plenty of great things"), which the scribe misread as indie busillis magnis plenæ ("in India there were plenty of large busillis")... [1].

"In conclusion, I think that..." — Cato the Elder used to conclude his speeches, on any topic whatsoever, with Ceterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam ("In conclusion, I think that Carthage must be destroyed").

"In fact" — Said of something that actually is the case. Often the implication is that it isn't the case of necessity (de jure) or that it is supposed not to be the case; e.g. "The Shogun was the de facto ruler of Japan."

"A god from a machine" — a contrived or artificial solution, usually to a literary plot. Refers to the practice in Greek drama of lowering by machine an actor playing Zeus onto the stage — as though he were descending from Olympus — to resolve an awkward plot.

;Dictum sapienti sat est

"The said is enough for the wise" — understandable for a wise one without the need for explanations (Plautus), also as: sat sapienti and sapienti sat.

"And thou, Brutus?" — literal quotation from William Shakespeare's Julius Caesar. He renders as Latin in an English play what was originally quoted as Greek supposedly spoken by a Roman. But Plutarch quotes Caesar as saying, Kai su, teknon? — Greek for "You too, my child?" (Greek would have been the language of Rome's elite at the time.) However it is unlikely that Caesar actually said these words.

"You must have the body" — i.e. you must justify an imprisonment. First two words of the Writ to bring a prisoner to court (Charles II of England, Habeas Corpus Act - 1679) and commonly used as the general term for a prisoner's legal right to have the charge against specifically identified.

;Habemus papam

"We have a pope" — used in a Catholic Church conclave to announce a successful ballot to elect a new pope.

;Hic jacet...

"Here lies..." — written on gravestones or tombs.

;Hic sepultus...

"Here is buried..."

;Honoris causa

"For the sake of honor" — said of an honorary title, e.g., Doctor of Science honoris causa.

"That is (to say)", abbreviated as "i.e." — sometimes "in this case," depending on the context. When celebrating this holiday (i.e. Christmas), hang a wreath on your door. It is not equivalent to "e.g.", in any context.

"In imitation of God" — a principle, held by several religions, that believers should strive to resemble their god(s).

;Imperium in imperio

"An empire within an empire" — i.e. a fifth column, a group of people within an nation's territory who owe allegiance to some other leader.

;Imprimatur

"(It) may be printed" — an authorization to publish, granted by some censoring authority (originally a Catholic Bishop).

;In absentia

"In the absence" — e.g. of a trial carried out in the absence of the accused.

;In duplo

"In two (copies)"

;In effigie

"In (the form of) an image" — as opposed to "in the flesh" or "in person".

;In extenso

"In long (form)" — i.e. "in full", "completely", "unabridged."

;In fidem

"To faith" — to the verification of

;In fine (i.f.)

"Finally."

;In flore

"In bloom."

;In flagrante delicto

"In flaming crime" — i.e. "caught red-handed."

;In foro

"In forum" — in court.

;In illo tempore

"At that time", found often in the Gospel lecture during the Mass. It is used to mark a time in a indetermined past.

;In loco

"At the place" — as e.g., "the water samples were analyzed in loco."

;In loco parentis

"In place of the parents" — Legal term, "assuming custodial/parental responsibility and authority".

;In manus tuas commendo spiritum meum

"In your hands I command my spirit", according to Luke 23:46 the last words of Jesus Christ on the Cross.

;In media res

"Into the middle things" — by Horace, refers to the poetic technique of beginning a narrative poem at a late point in the story, after much action has already taken place. Examples include the Iliad, the Odyssey, and Paradise Lost. Compare ab initio.

;In memoriam

"In memory of" — i.e. to remember or honor a deceased person.

;In nuce

"In a nutshell."

;In partibus infidelium

"The the land of the infidels" — infidels here refers to non-Catholics. After Islam conquered a big part of the Roman Empire, the corresponding bishoprics didn't disappear, but remained as honorific titles.

;In rerum natura

"In the nature of things."

;In salvo

"In safety."

;In silico

"In silicon", an experiment or process performed as a computer simulation. Compare with in vitro and in vivo.

;In statu nascendi

"At the moment of birth" — just as something is about to begin.

;In situ

"In place" — in the original place, position, or arrangement.

;In toto

"In all" — "totally", "completely".

;In triplo

"In three (copies)."

;In vitro

"In glass" — an experiment or process performed in a non-natural laboratory setting, for example in a test tube.

;In vivo

"In life" — an experiment or process performed in a living specimen, as opposed to in vitro.

Through the agency (of) — used to indicate that a person is signing a document on behalf of another person (correctly placed before the name of the person signing, but often placed before the name of the person on whose behalf the document is signed, sometimes through incorrect translation of the alternative abbreviation "per pro." as "for and on behalf of").

;Per se

"By itself" or "in itself" — i.e. without referring to anything else, intrinsically, taken without qualifications, etc.; for instance, negligence per se.

"Which see" — used after a term or phrase that should be looked up elsewhere in the current document or book.

;Quod erat demonstrandum (Q.E.D)

"That which was to be demonstrated" — often written (abbreviated) at the bottom of a mathematical proof.

;Quo errat demonstrator

"Where the prover errs" — a pun on Quod erat demonstrandum.

;Quousque tandem?

"For how much longer?" — from Cicero's speech to the Roman senate regarding the conspiracy of Catiline: Quousque tandem abutere, Catilina, patientia nostra?i.e. "For how much longer, Catilina, will you abuse our patience?".

"Reduction to absurdity" — a technique of argument that proves the thesis by showing that its opposite is absurd or logically untenable. This is an oft-used method of proof in mathematics and philosophy.

;Regnat populus

"Let the People rule."

;Requiescat in pace (R.I.P.)

"May he rest in peace" — a benediction for the dead. Often inscribed on tombstones or other grave markers.

"The thing speaks for itself" — a phrase from the common law of torts that means negligence can be inferred from the fact that such an accident happened, without proof of exactly how.

;Res ipsa loquitur, sed quid in infernos dicet?

"The thing speaks for itself, but what the hell did it say?" — a sarcastic pseudo-Latin commentary on res ipsa loquitur, reminding the listener that we must still interpret the significance of events that "speak for themselves."

Literally, "Judged thing" — i.e. matter which has been decided by a court. Commonly, the legal concept that once a matter has been finally decided by the courts it cannot be litigated again. See also Double jeopardy

"The Senate and the People of Rome" — i.e. "The Aristocrats and the Commoners", the official name of the Roman Republic. "SPQR" was carried on battle standards by the Roman Legions.

;Sesquipedalia verba

"Words a foot and a half long" — long and complicated words that are used without necessity.

;Sic

"Thus", "just so" — states that the preceding quoted material appears exactly that way in the source, usually despite errors of spelling, grammar, usage, or fact.

;Sic itur ad astra

"Thus to the stars" — that's how to achieve fame.

;Sic passim

"thus in various places" — used when referencing books; see passim.

;Sine anno (s.a.)

"Without year" — used in bibliographies to indicate that the date of publication of a document is unknown.

;Sine die

"Without a (set) day" — originally from old common law texts, where it indicates that a final, dispositive order has been made in the case: there is nothing left for the court to do, so no date for further proceedings is set.

"Last argument" — the last resort. Louis XIV, King of France, had Ultima Ratio Regum ("The last resort of kings") engraved on the cannons of his armies.

;Unus multorum

"One of many" — an average person.

;Urbi et orbi

"To the city (of Rome) and to the globe" — standard opening of Roman proclamations; also a traditional blessing by the Pope.

;Ut biberent, quando (or quoniam) esse nollent

"So that they might drink, since they refused to eat" — from a story by Suetonius (Vit. Tib. 2.2) and Cicero (De Natura Deorum, 2.3). The phrase was said by Roman admiral Publius Claudius Pulcher, right before the battle of Drepana, as he threw overboard the sacred chickens which had refused to eat the grain offered them — an unwelcome omen of bad luck. So the sense is "if they do not perform as expected, they must suffer the consequences".

;Ut infra

"As below."

;Ut retro

"As backwards" or "as on the back side" — i.e. "as above" or "as on the previous page".

"Go back, Satan!" — implied meaning "go away, do not dare to tempt me!". From a popular Medieval Catholic exorcism formula, apparently based on a rebuke by Jesus to Peter in the Vulgate, Mark 8:33: vade retro me, Satana. ("step back from me, Satan!").

;Veni, vidi, vici

"I came, I saw, I conquered" — the full text of a message sent by Julius Caesar to the Roman senate, to describe his battle against King Pharnakles of Pontus near Zela in 47 BC.